Automatic traffic signal device



May 2l, 1940. E. scHNuRPFEu.

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL DEVICEl .Filed Aug. 8, 1938 Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 8,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved automatic traffic signal device.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide an efficient and economically constructed signal switch device which is more particularly adapted for controlling the direction signaling mechanism of an automobile or other conveyance.

Another object oi this invention is to provide such a switch device which is automatically actuated by the turning of the steering wheel, for indicating the turn intended to be made with the automobile; and which furthermore includes additional switch means adapted to be operated by hand, whereby the signal device may furthermore be actuated prior to the turning of the steering wheel and independently thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved signal lamp to be mounted on the top of the automobile, and which alone will serve to provide all the signaling means formerly provided by the several customary front and rear lamps combined.

These and various other objects and advantages are attained with'this invention, as will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which this invention is illustrated in its preferred form of construction; it being un derstood that various other arrangements and forms of construction may be resorted to for carrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows an automobile in side elevation, having my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the switch device, shown applied to the steering mechanism of an automobile.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views taken respectively, along lines 3-3 and 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing the movable and the stationary insulating members of the switch.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the invention with its electric circuits, as applied to an automobile, the signal lamp being shown in horizontal section.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the signal lamp, from the rear and the right-hand side.

Fig. 7 is a view of the front panel of said lamp.

For the purpose of illustration my invention is shown herein as applied to an automobile I0; and its main feature consists of the improved automatic switch device Il, which is preferably ac companied'by the manually actuated switch de- 1938, Serial No. 223,573

vice I2, either of which functions to operate the novel signal lamp I3, said lamp being preferably mounted on an intermediate part of the top I4 of the automobile, so that the indicated signal can be readily observed from the front and from the rear and from either side thereof.

The automatic switch II is arranged and constructed in a very simple and compact manner, so that it can be made economically and can be placed on the market at a very reasonable price. It consists of two companion members I8 and I'l, which are of insulating material and are substantially in the form of superposed disks. The member I6 has a collar I8 embracing the steering column I9 and secured thereto by a suitable element 20, so as to remain stationary therewith. The member I'I has a collar 2| embracing the steering post .22 and secured thereto by a suitable element 23, so as to turn with the post whenever it is actuated by the steering wheel 24.

The stationary switch member I6 has contacts 26, 2l and 28 secured thereon, which are preferably made of strips of brass or copper. Said contact strips are preferably curved and placed concentric on said member, and the inner contact i.

26 is substantially circular, while the intermediate contact 2l, for indicating the left turn, and the outer contact 28, for indicating the right turn, are substantially semi-circular, as best shown in Fig. 4.

The movable switch member I'I has a contact element 3| secured thereon, as by means of a screw 32. Said element is preferably bellcrank shaped including a shorter arm 33 and a longer arm 34, having a contact point 36 at the angle portion which is constantly in contact with and movable over the inner circular contact strip 2B; while arms 33 and 34 have contact points 31 and 38 at their ends adapted to be swung into engagement with and then to be slid upon the segmental strips 2l and 28, respectively, as the steering wheel and steering post are being turned, for in dicating the left turn or the right turn. Said contact strips 26, 21 and 28 have binding posts il), dIand l2, respectively, extending therefrom thru insulating disk IS, which have conductors 44, 45 and 46 attached thereto, respectively, and extending therefrom along the steering column I9. Said member I'I may be provided with a peripheral flange I'I, to provide a protective housing .for the contact elements.

The signal lamp I3 is also arranged and constructed and is so mounted that it will effect economy in its use, and it will serve the purpose of the several and Various stop lamps and direction signal lamps heretofore customarily employed. This lamp is in the form of a rectangular casing fl'! provided with bracket means 47' whereby to secure it on the top of the automobile, having window openings 48, 4B and 58 in its front Wall, with a front panel 5| extending across the inner side thereof, thereby providing front windows 48', 49' and 50'; also having window openings 52, 53 and 54 in its rear wall, with a panel 55 extending across the inner side thereof, thereby providing three rear windows 52', 53' and 54. The outer windows 53' and 54' have outwardly directed arrows thereon for indicating a left turn and a right turn of the conveyance, and the central window 52' has the Word Stop thereon for a stop signal. A window opening 56 is provided in each side of the casing 4l' and has a panel 56' extending across the same, thus providing side windows. The panels are preferably of suitably colored glass.

Partitions walls 6l are placed across the casing, thereby providing a'central chamber/62, and two outer chambers 63 and 64, which are provided, respectively, with light bulbs 66, Gl and 68, which are grounded on said casing at 66', El' and 68', as best shown in Fig. 5.

The conductor 45 from the left-turn switch element 2 is connected with bulb 81, while the conductor 4G from the right-turn switch element 28 is connected with bulb 68. The conductor 44 is connected with the battery l0 of the automobile, and it has a branch conductor 'Il extending to a stationary switch element 'l2 cooprating with a movable switch element 'I3 which is connected by a conductor 'lll with the light bulb 66. Switch element 73 is moved to element l2 by a link 'l5 thru the operation of the foot pedal 16, for closing the circuit from the battery "lil thru conductor 44, conductor 7|, elements 'l2 and '13, conductor i4, and thru bulb 65 and its ground 66' thru the automobile back to the battery, to energize the stop light by means oi the foot pedal 76.

When the steering wheel 24 and post 22 are turned toward the right, in turning the automobile, the movable switch member l1 with contact element 3| are turned to the right so that contact point 38 engages and slides upon contact strip 28, While Contact point 36 slides upon contact strip 26, and the circuit is thereby completed from battery I8 thru conductor 44, strip 26, arm 34, point 38, strip 28, conductor 46, and thru bulb 68 and its ground 68 thru the automobile back to the battery, thereby illuminating the chamber 64 to indicate a right-hand turn thru the windows 58', 56' and 54'. Likewise, when the steering wheel and the post are turned toward the left, the member with element 3| are moved t0 the left and contact point 31 rides upon contact strip 2l, While contact point 36 rides upon contact strip 28, thereby completing the circuitl from battery 'lll thru conductor 44, strip 26, arm 33, point 3l', strip 2l, conductor 45, and thru bulb 67 and its ground 6l' thru the automobile back to the battery, thereby illuminating the chamber 63 to indicate a left-hand turn thru its front window 48', side window 56' and rear window 53', thus indicating from three directions of the signal device the turn intended to be made.

The means |2 which is provided for actuating the turn indicating signal manually, and prior to the turning of the steering mechanism and independently thereof, is preferably mounted on the dash board 88 of the automobile and includes stationary contact points 8| and 82 which are connected thru conductors 83 and 84, respectively, with the conductors 45 and 46, and therethru with the contact strips 21 and 28. A movable contact arm 85 on said means |2 is connected thru a conductor 86 with conductor 44 and therethru with contact strip 26. By moving arm 85 to the right, into engagement with contact point 82, the circuit is closed from battery 10 thru conductor 44, conductor 86, contacts 85 and 82, conductor 84, conductor 46, and thru bulb 68 and its ground 68 thru the automobile back to the battery. Likewise, when arm 85 is turned to the left into contact with element 8|, the circuit is closed from battery 'I0 thru conductor 44, conductor 86, contacts 85 and 8|, conductor 83, conductor 45, and thru bulb 61 and its ground 6l thru the automobile back to the battery, thereby illuminating the left-turn lamp to indicate a left-hand turn. This can thus be accomplished prior to the turning of the steering wheel, to give an advance signal if desired, and it can likewise be operated when the automobile and the steering wheel stand still.

It is apparent from the above disclosure that this invention, including the signal control switch as well as the signal lamp |3, is very compact and economically constructed and fully serves the purpose of the more expensive and complex signal devices of this kind heretofore in use.

I claim:

l. An electric signal switch comprising two companion disk-like members of insulating material adapted to be mounted one on a column and the other on a post rotary in the column, one member having a collar and means for securing it to the column, concentrically arranged curved metal strips secured in the face of one member and having binding posts extending therefrom thru the member to its opposite face, adapted to have a conductor fastened on each binding post, the other member having a collar and means for securing it to said rotary post to turn therewith, and a contact element with resilient arms and including a contact point in engagement with the inner curved strip also contact points on said arms selectively engageable with either one of the other contact strips upon turning o1 said rotary post.

2. An electric switch comprising two superposed disk-like members of insulating material adapted to be mounted on a pair of companion supporting means one of which has rotary movement relative to the other, said switch members having means for securing them operatively to said pair oi supporting means, one member including circularly arranged metal contact strips embedded in its face and having binding posts extending therefrom thru the member to its outer face, adapted to have conductors attached thereto, and the other member carrying a contact element on its inner face having a common contact point in constant engagement with one of said contact strips and also having two branch contact points each engageable respectively with one of the other Contact strips upon turning of said member with its attached supporting means.

3. An electric signal switch comprising two superposed disk-like members of insulating material adapted to be mounted one on a column and the other on a steering post turnable in said column, each member having a collar on its outward face provided with secruing means for readily securing one member onto the column and the other member onto the post, concentrically arranged curved metal strips embedded in the inward face of one member and having binding posts extending therefrom thru the member to its outward face, adapted to have a conductor fastened to each binding post, and the other member carrying a Contact element on its n- Ward face having'a common contact point in oonstant engagement with one of said contact strips and also having two arms with contact points each engageable respectively with one of the other contact strips upon turning of said member with its attached steering post, one of these members containing a peripheral flange which bears on the other member thus providing a protective housing for the contact elements and strips.

ERWIN SCHNURPFEIL. 

